November 22, 2013

Limiting Menu Labeling Rules for Pizzerias, Grocery Stores

Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Angus King (I-Maine) have served up legislation that aims to limit or eliminate upcoming U.S. Food and Drug Administration menu labeling rules for grocery stores, corner markets and pizzerias, winning rave reviews from the food industry.

The Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act [PDF], which the senators introduced Thursday, intends to exempt grocers and convenience store operators from proposed FDA regulations that would require food retailers with at least 20 locations to reveal the number of calories in the products they sell. Under the bill, retailers that receive less than 50 percent of their revenue from food meant for immediate consumption or made on-site wouldn't have to post calorie information.

The measure also would provide pizzerias with menu labeling options such as using an average or a range in recording their pies' calorie tallies, instead of determining the number of calories in each of their pizzas. And the bill wouldn't require pizza delivery outposts to install menu boards that display calorie counts.